Corporate Denial
In-N-Out's first move into the Houston area? Getting to the truth behind the newbuzzy rumor
It's been over a year since In-N-Out Burger made its much-anticipated debut in Texas, and now there are 15 locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Now, a Houston radio personality claims that the chain is heading to the Houston area at last.
790 AM sports radio show host Matt Jackson tweeted on Wednesday that
Sources in the 77478 tell me "In an Out Burger"[sic] coming to Sugar Land. Suspected location near Skeeters Stadium."
Not so fast, an In-N-Out representative tells CultureMap. An official in the In-N-Out corporate office says that there has been no real estate activity in Sugar Land and that there is nothing planned through the end of this year.
Are you convinced by that denial?
It wouldn't be unusual for the California chain to stick its toe in the Houston market by starting with a suburban location. The first Dallas-area In-N-Outs were in upscale suburbs Allen and Frisco, which are about as far from downtown Dallas as Sugar Land is. The Frisco location even has another similarity with the rumored Sugar Land spot — both are near the stadiums of new minor league baseball teams.
In-N-Out is also trying to open a regional distribution center near the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport that the company has said would support expansion "across Texas" and possibly into other neighboring states. Reps from the burger chain have told Fort Worth officials that a new distribution center would create jobs by 2013.
